 |
 |
Tip: clean the inside of your computer
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: yes
Status:
Offline
|
|
This is probably completely obvious to many, but I had a fan in my Macbook Pro that was making horrible sounds because it was clogged with dust bunnies, and this weakened the motor. I ended up having the fan replaced, and the machine is running far better now overall. A machine that is not getting proper air circulation can exhibit all sorts of problems.
Apparently cracking open the case of your laptop does not void its warranty, as you need to do so to get to the RAM which is user serviceable. I don't know how many models allow you to get to the fan by opening up the main case without dismantling anything, but my advice: open 'er up once a year or so and spray it with compressed air.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Wasilla, Alaska
Status:
Offline
|
|
Or bring it to a service shop and we'll do it for you for $40-$100, depending on how nice you are. 
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Diego
Status:
Offline
|
|
My 12 inch PowerBook is a total PITA to get open, so no thanks.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator  Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Status:
Offline
|
|
This is my favorite tip to everyone who complains about noise. The iMac G5 was even worse, because of the grille design, but fortunately way easier to clean.
|
|
The new Mac Pro has up to 30 MB of cache inside the processor itself. That's more than the HD in my first Mac. Somehow I'm still running out of space.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Caught in a web of deceit.
Status:
Offline
|
|
iMac G4 - That was a dust magnet. A pain to open and clean too, but it was a big help for fan noise.
BTW, I just bought a rackmount 24 port Gigabit switch - on clearout for uber cheap - perfect for my basement network closet I set up during my renovation. The switch is loud because of the fan. So, I diassembled it and unplugged the fan completely. It still barely gets warm to the touch, presumably because it's built for business use, and I'm just using it at home, and only rarely streaming at Gigabit speeds. I may just leave it as is, or at most will install a new low noise fan, or undervolt the current one. The good news with no fan though is no dust inside.
Too bad we couldn't do this with our laptops and iMacs.
(
Last edited by Eug; Dec 7, 2010 at 09:51 AM.
)
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by P 
This is my favorite tip to everyone who complains about noise. The iMac G5 was even worse, because of the grille design, but fortunately way easier to clean.
Never had to clean my G5 in its 5 years of use, it's squeaky clean in there still. I think the noise scares dust away.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Status:
Offline
|
|
No, on the iMac G5 you cleaned the outside of the intake, because the grille design made everything stick there. It's just not terribly obvious that it's there.
|
|
The new Mac Pro has up to 30 MB of cache inside the processor itself. That's more than the HD in my first Mac. Somehow I'm still running out of space.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status:
Offline
|
|
Had to clean out my G5 about twice a year. 2 cats and being close to the floor necessitated that. Still, never got too terribly dusty even with that grill work. Alas, it died about 4 months ago.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: California
Status:
Offline
|
|
Earlier this year I opened up my iMac G5 and blew through it with a can of compressed air. I didn't think there was very much dust, until I got it back together, picked it up, and looked at the surface it was laying on. There was a more than I thought that came out through the bottom grill. Unfortunately mine seems to be on its last legs.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: yes
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by iMOTOR
My 12 inch PowerBook is a total PITA to get open, so no thanks.
I understand, but if the fans start coming on more frequently or sounding like they are working harder, I'd check on this
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Diego
Status:
Offline
|
|
From day one the fans have come on when doing something intensive. But FWIW, I did open it up about four years ago to upgrade the hard disk and there was a thin layer of fine dust on everything, but nothing major. Oddly, it wasn’t saturated with dust bunnies like the rest of my house is.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Australia
Status:
Offline
|
|
Dust blocked a fan on my old macbook, caused a overheat, fried the motherboard and swelled the battery.
Its a good tip.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Smallish town in Ohio
Status:
Offline
|
|
Never cleaned or touched the inside of my 1st gen intel iMac. Running beautifully ever since I bought it almost 5 years ago.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: yes
Status:
Offline
|
|
It sounds like some Macs are more affected than others, and I'm sure the physical environment is a factor too. The iMac seems to have an advantage though since it has gravity on its side
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 
|
|
|
Forum Rules
|
|
|
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top